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Tuesday, July 13, 2010

A look inside Lydia Dare's thought processes

Since there are two of us, whenever something comes up that we need to write -- be it a book, or even a blog, we usually chat with one another on the ‘net until we solidify our idea. We started chatting last night about an upcoming blog (this one) for the Casablanca Author’s blog, and we thought we’d show you what it’s like to be Lydia Dare. Here’s how it went:

[9:54:23 PM] Tammy Falkner: So, Jodie, what's your take on happiness? Do we have to agree on this thing? If so, that's about as likely to happen as moss growing on the wrong side of the tree.[9:54:55 PM] Jodie Pearson: You don’t know which side is the wrong side of the tree, do you?[9:55:09 PM] Tammy Falkner: Not a clue. But there's a right side and a wrong side.[9:55:20 PM] Jodie Pearson: Well, the theme is the "pursuit of happiness". So that's kind of different than my TAKE on happiness.[9:55:27 PM] Tammy Falkner: Told you we wouldn't agree.[9:55:34 PM] Jodie Pearson: When do we?[9:56:08 PM] Tammy Falkner: Never. I prefer doing it this way, actually.[9:56:21 PM] Jodie Pearson: You do?[9:56:42 PM] Jodie Pearson: It might be nice to agree every once in a while.[9:56:43 PM] Tammy Falkner: Yeah, it saves my hubby from having me make up needless arguments just to tax HIS brain.[9:56:59 PM] Jodie Pearson: lol[9:57:02 PM] Jodie Pearson: So glad I can help.[9:58:04 PM] Jodie Pearson: Do you have a problem with the PURSUIT of happiness?[9:58:08 PM] Tammy Falkner: So, my take on happiness --- it's not something that you can pursue. It just sort of happens. And I do know that the more you pursue it, the faster that b*tch might run. Now tell me you don't agree.[9:58:24 PM] Jodie Pearson: Well, i don't.[9:58:29 PM] Tammy Falkner: Go figure.[9:58:34 PM] Jodie Pearson: Big surprise, I know.[9:58:57 PM] Jodie Pearson: I should probably tell you Thomas Jefferson is my most favorite president ever.[9:59:12 PM] Tammy Falkner: Should that mean something to me?[9:59:14 PM] Jodie Pearson: But I don't think it's foolhardy to try and find happiness.[9:59:45 PM] Jodie Pearson: Yes, he wrote the declaration of independence, where our right to pursue happiness is mentioned. ;)[9:59:59 PM] Tammy Falkner: I can't stop laughing![10:00:25 PM] Jodie Pearson: Pursuing happiness can be working in a job you love. Doing hobbies that make you happy. There's nothing wrong with that.[10:00:39 PM] Jodie Pearson: Pursuing those sorts of thing won't keep happiness at bay.[10:02:28 PM] Tammy Falkner: But the job that makes me happy today might not make me as happy tomorrow. (I love MY job, by the way, but we're speaking theoretically). The tinkle of my kid's laughter makes me happy TODAY. But tomorrow it might make me unhappy, particularly when you're asking me for pages and he’s tinkling like crazy as he bounces a ball off my forehead.[10:02:50 PM] Jodie Pearson: Are you saying I nag you for pages?[10:03:09 PM] Jodie Pearson: I mean I was getting ready to. I wrote almost 5,000 words today.[10:03:11 PM] Tammy Falkner: On occasion, you have been known to nag...[10:03:20 PM] Jodie Pearson: Only when I need to.[10:03:31 PM] Tammy Falkner: I haven't written a thing, except for a skype chat about our happiness blog.[10:03:51 PM] Jodie Pearson: Great! Are we done?[10:04:10 PM] Tammy Falkner: Did we decide what to write about?[10:04:35 PM] Jodie Pearson: You know, why don't we just take this chat and post it instead. It's on the subject after all.[10:04:42 PM] Jodie Pearson: And it makes me happy to nag you.[10:04:55 PM] Tammy Falkner: Undoubtedly[10:04:59 PM] Jodie Pearson: lol[10:05:07 PM] Tammy Falkner: Is that a word?[10:05:09 PM] Tammy Falkner: Probably not.[10:05:14 PM] Tammy Falkner: You can edit me later.[10:05:19 PM] Jodie Pearson: Who cares? It's late.[10:05:36 PM] Jodie Pearson: I have typos all over the place. So embarrassing.[10:06:02 PM] Jodie Pearson: My fingers don't work as fast as my brain.[10:06:05 PM] Tammy Falkner: Good, I'll get to edit you if we ever finish the blog.

Here’s a look into OUR pursuit of happiness, and one of the many things that makes us both happy is a completed manuscript, or even a completed blog. (And, yes, if you know us, you know it’s like this in real life and we’re not just trying to entertain you.) The pursuit of happiness comes naturally in some things, not so naturally in others. And you can find happiness in the strangest places. Even in the moss on the wrong side of the tree. Or when you read a quote by Thomas Jefferson. Or when you’re living, breathing, loving the people around you, and finding happiness in the simple things. Because those are the things that will continue to provide happiness.

14 comments:

Words cannot describe ... have fallen off my chair cause I'm laughing so hard. I managed to take the keyboard with me. Will have to call for help soon to get up again. Didn't think I could laugh anymore today.

LOL, this is priceless. I'm with you both, I think. Yes, you can pursue happiness. But yes, the more you pursue it, the more it might run away. The thing I've learned is that often, what we think will make us happy is NOT what will make us happy. Not always. But it happens pretty often. So we might think we're pursuing our happiness, only to find more misery. Or, maybe we've figured out what will make us happy and are truly pursuing that.

And now I've rambled. Again. I'll leave you two to it. You seem to handle that well enough on your own, at least in your chats. LOL.

There is some pursuit involved in finding happiness. I mean if you want to be a dolphin trainer (or whatever makes you happy), you have to get the proper training, apply for the job, etc, and pursue that career. You're not going to have some dolphin knocking on your front door asking you to be his trainer. But not everything in life that makes you happy must be pursued. It's very much a mixed bag. Maybe the moss grows on both sides of the tree.

Wow - that was just like being at lunch with you two! Too funny, and so in character :)

Hmmm...I blogged today about 'when I'm an old woman,' and I think I should have mentioned to always be in pursuit of happiness :) Although, I guess wearing electric blue tennis shoes and loud, multi-colored glasses would make me happy ...

I think you're both right. You can pursue happiness, but you shouldn't think you can't be happy unit you achieve your goal. You have to find happiness in the little things and then when you achieve the big things you've worked hard for, it's all that much sweeter.

Danielle ~ LOL. We are such good friends that most of the time writing together is tons of fun.

Catharine ~ Any time you want to ramble on, just send me an email. ;)

Amelia ~ I think you're right. Happiness does come from within. I've known people who had the worst luck, sickly, etc - but whose outlook on life was so good, they were always happy. I don't think I'm that zen.

Olivia ~ No dolphins knocking on my door? LOL. That was too funny. Thanks for commenting.

Erin ~ You have seen us like this more than once and IN person. Thanks again for the pic.

Robin ~ We're in complete agreement, since you agreed with both of us. ;)